Access Non-.NET APIs with PInvoke : VB.NET: Handle Exceptions Properly: Listing 1

When you call Windows API functions, they don't throw managed exceptions. Instead, you need to check their return values for any indication of an error, and take the appropriate actions, which might include throwing your own managed exception.

Dim phonebook As String _
   = Nothing
Dim count As Int32 = 5
Dim entries(0 To count - 1) _
   As RASENTRYNAME
Dim size = Marshal.SizeOf( _
   GetType(RASENTRYNAME))

entries(0).Size = size

Dim buffersize = size * count

Dim rtn = RasEnumEntries(IntPtr.Zero, _
    phonebook, _
    entries, _
    buffersize, _
    count)

If rtn = _
   RasErrorCodes. _
   BUFFER_TOO_SMALL Then
   'need to resize and 
   'call the function again
   ReDim entries(0 To count - 1)
   entries(0).Size = size
   buffersize = size * count

   rtn = RasEnumEntries(IntPtr.Zero, _
      phonebook, _
      entries, _
      buffersize, _
      count)
End If

Select Case rtn
   Case _
      RasErrorCodes. _
      NOT_ENOUGH_MEMORY, _
      RasErrorCodes. _
      INVALID_SIZE
       Throw New Exception( _
         "RAS exception:" _
         & rtn.ToString)

   Case RasErrorCodes.SUCCESS
      If count <> _
         entries.Length Then
      ReDim Preserve _ 
         entries(0 To count - 1)
      End If
      Return entries

   Case Else
      Return Nothing

End Select
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